The 10-piece Levitation Orchestra is not just a relatively new force on the UK-jazz scene, but also one of those modern outfits that confirm that spiritual jazz is not only still alive and well, but also a (sub) genre that is still developing into new directions.
When Kamasi Washington rekindled the interest in spiritual jazz almost a decade ago, there was a flurry of re-releases of the seventies spiritual jazz prime time, but also several new acts that are not only reviving the ‘old’ sounds, but bringing in new ideas and visions.
After three albums under their belt (Sanctuary, the latest, being the third one), Levitation Orchestra can certainly be listed as one of the frontrunners in taking spiritual jazz further. The main force of this true collective is exactly that – the collective spirit, collective composition, and community music.
While certainly taking clues from the giants of the genre like Pharoah Sanders and Sun Ra, Levitation Orchestra also refers to classical composers like Igor Stravinsky and Maurice Ravel (‘Breathe It In’ here), but blends these influences smoothly, letting the collective spirit be the guiding force without imposing strict structural rules.
This concept makes the music of Levitation Orchestra run a very natural course here, something that really embodies the essence of spiritual jazz.
